Winnebago County aviation panel approves easement, lease renewals and hears project updates

The Winnebago County Aviation Committee on March 4 approved an underground electric easement requested by Wisconsin Public Service after corporation counsel reviewed and recommended revisions. The committee approved the easement by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The committee also approved two one-year hangar lease renewals. Staff said Michael Hoy, the current tenant in Hangar I, will renew at a monthly rate noted in the record as $13.40, a figure staff described as aligned with a CPI adjustment. The committee approved that renewal by voice vote. The panel likewise approved a one-year move for Kyle Volz into Hangar L809A; staff said the current term reflected a rate recorded in the minutes and that, once Chapter 21 ordinance rates take effect, proposed ordinance rates for that category would be $500 per month.

Staff provided two capital and maintenance updates. For project number 22026, a nine-unit T-hangar building, staff reported a targeted late-March or early-April groundbreaking; the project was described as 84% grant-funded and 16% county-funded, with occupancy and leasing anticipated in early 2027. For the control-tower chiller replacement, purchasing awarded the contract to August Winter and Sons; the contract award was reported as $223,300, the 2026 funding allocation was reported as about $260,000, and staff said a temporary rental chiller will be on site April–September while a replacement with a roughly six-month lead time is procured.

Committee members asked staff to confirm contract language that protects the county in the event of faulty equipment installation. Staff said the county’s standard purchase-service agreement has warranties and that contingency funding is included in the project budget.

The committee confirmed items will be forwarded to the full county board as appropriate and adjourned by voice vote.